By: Mary Dunne
Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Championship Semi Final
Clodiagh Gaels: 2-18
Clara: 2-15
Clodiagh Gaels put in a tremendous second half showing to book their place in the Senior B Hurling decider, when they overcome a strong Clara side following an intriguing battle on Sunday afternoon last.
With a coveted place in the Senior B decider up for grabs, it was no wonder that Clara and Clodiagh Gaels played out an extremely interesting affair when they clashed for the second time this year and it was ‘Gaels who came out on top with their second half performance second to none.
With no less than 26 dual players in their ranks they are now in a very happy position of the possibility of doing a football and hurling double in the coming weeks.
On the football side they face off against Doon in the Junior A Football decider and they will have to wait to see who they will play in the hurling following the postponement of the Seir Kieran versus KK came following the sad passing of Carolyn Quinn.
Played the lovely sunshine of an autumn September in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore, this was a lively affair from the off with both sides really fighting to get to the final and a bid to be that one step closer to top flight hurling for 2027.
Once again we could certainly say it was a game of two halves. Clara appeared to be in complete control, but the more the second half played on the stronger Clodiagh Gaels became.
In the second half they outscored Clara by a whopping 1-10 to 0-3 from the 41st minute and in the end Clara had no answer to them as the more the game played on the more confident Clodiagh Gaels became.
Both clubs have been battling for the past number of years to get out of the Senior B Championship. Throughout the year they played some extremely good hurling and there is no doubt that a step up to the higher tier is something that they have craved and deserve.
The sides who met in the opening round of the championship last July, came together again in a crunch affair and with plenty of hurling under the bridge since that opening round clash, this game as do or die as they battled from start to finish.
In their previous meeting it was Clodiagh Gaels who came out on top in a game that Clara were punished throughout for their excessive level of fouling particularly in defence saw them suffer despite their strong push in the second half of the clash.
While Sunday was a totally new game, it certainly had to be in the minds of both sides as they took to the field, but it was Clara who came with real vigor and gusto, leaving Clodiagh Gaels in their wake for a long spells.
Clara certainly came with intent and with a cracking start they hit the ground running. Without even giving Clodiagh Gaels a chance to settle into the game, they struck at a ferocious pace and Clodiagh Gaels really couldn’t contend with it.
Marcas Dalton straight from the throw in attacked and with only twenty seconds on the clock he struck over and Clara certainly sending out the warning signal.
They were absolutely flying and it was only a matter of time before they added to their lead in what was a dream start.
Cormac Delaney was on point with his first of five scores for the half and then with still two minutes on the clock they attacked again and with a cracking shot off the underside of the cross bar Barry Cushen found the net.
There was no letting up on Clara and with a brilliantly worked move between Conor Egan and Marcas Dalton they tore through for Josh Fleming to finish off the move and Clara 1-3 to no score ahead after only four minutes of play.
It was not that Clodiagh Gaels didn’t have chances in that spell but their final shooting did let them down on a number of occasions, but finally with eight minutes on the clock Emmet Curley got them off the mark.
Cormac Delaney added another for Clara by the 11th minute and the same player had a golden goal chance seconds later, but shaved to the right wide much to the relief of Clodiagh Gaels.
Barry Cushen added a point to his goal, before Clodiagh Gaels recorded their second of the game with Liam Langton hitting over from a placed ball.
Cormac Delaney and Sean Brady traded scores by the 18th minute, but with another score from Cormac Delaney this time from play, Clara were seven clear 1-7 to 0-3 still with eighteen on the clock.
Clodiagh Gaels needed something special and a minute later it finally came. Dylan Hyland did great work to clear out of defence and with Cathal Brady on hand to send in a high ball is was beautifully poised for Mark Dillon who with the flick of wrist planted the sliothar to the net and suddenly it was a case of game on, 1-7 to 1-3.
Clara did respond very well with a brace thanks to Josh Fleming and Cormac Delaney, but Clodiagh Gaels were now starting to come into their own and with a fine score from Joey Keenaghan, the gap was back to five 1-9 to 1-4 with twenty two played.
Barry Egan and Mark Dillon swapped scores, before Ross Brady sent over a beaut of a point as he was falling to edge Clara six clear 1-11 to 1-5 as half time loomed.
There was still time for another piece of play and with Diarmuid Walsh fouled, Liam Langton fired over the closing score of the gap to bring it to four 1-11 to 1-7 at the interval and a game in the melting pot.
After the start they had Clodiagh Gales certainly would have taken the gap at four by the break, but they needed to come out and set down a marker, but it was Clara who had the opening score thanks to Barry Cushen.
Clodiagh attacked soon after and with advantage being played Sean Rattigan pulled off a great pass to Cathal Brady. His shot looked set to be heading for goal, but was saved brilliantly by Willie Fleming, but all was not lost for them with Liam Langton pointing the free to bring it back to a four point gap again two minutes into restart.
Clara were slightly living off scrapes. Clodiagh Gaels had tightened it up considerably, but with another moment of magic they attacked again. Ross Brady started to move and with Barry Cushen and Josh Fleming joining in, Conor Egan was on hand to rattle the net. Clara 2-12 to 1-8 clear with thirty eight played.
But that’s when Clodiagh took over again and with the next five scores on the bounce from Liam Langton (4), one of which was a spectacular score from play and the other from Mark Dillon, the gap was back to two 2-12 to 1-13.
Conor Doyle steadied Clara with a much needed score and with a second score coming from Cormac Delaney, Clara were four clear 2-14 to 1-13 and really they should have pushed on from there.
But it was Clodiagh who kept plugging at it. At the back they started to gain complete control and it was only a matter of time before it showed on the board.
Mark Dillon brought it back to three points on the 52nd minute, before Sean Brady had the gap at two and the pendulum was certainly swinging in Clodiagh Gaels favour.
Then with fifty six on the clock Sean Rattigan overturned a Clara clearance and with a high ball into Joey Keenaghan he made a brilliant catch on the edge of the box and making no hesitation he turned and rattled the net. Clodiagh Gaels in the lead for the first time in the game 2-15 to 2-14.
Liam Langton and Sean Rattigan added to the scores and with fifty nine on the clock they were three clear 2-17 to 2-14.
To be fair to Clara did they keep battling and when Conor Doyle stepped up to a 21 yard free he had goal on his mind, but his shot flew over the bar.
It was a chance, but in the end it was Clodiagh who sealed the win with a long range free from their goalkeeper Kevin Kinahan to bring the final scores to 2-18 to 2-15.
The Scorers
Clodiagh Gaels: Liam Langton 0-8 (0-7 Frees), Mark Dillon 1-3, Joey Keenaghan 1-1, Sean Brady 0-2, Emmet Curley 0-1, Cathal Brady 0-1, Sean Rattigan 0-1, Kevin Kinahan 0-1 (Free).
Clara: Cormac Delaney 0-6 (0-5 Frees), Barry Cushen 1-2, Conor Egan 1-0, Josh Fleming 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-2 (0-1 Free), Marcas Dalton 0-1, Barry Egan 0-1, Ross Brady 0-1.
The Teams
Clodiagh Gaels: Kevin Kinahan; Caolan Flanagan, Clint Horan, Conor Barry; Ruairi Dunne, Aaron Flanagan, Dylan Hyland; Eoin Dunne, Diarmuid Walsh; Emmet Curley, Liam Langton, Cathal Brady; Joey Keenaghan, Mark Dillon, Sean Brady.
Subs: Sean Rattigan for Emmet Curley (30+1 mins), Sean Dunne for Eoin Dunne (Half Time), Conor Langton for Diarmuid Walsh (42 mins).
Clara: Willie Fleming; Scott Griffith, Callum Bracken, Alan Gavin; Conor Doyle, Ciaran Doyle; Marcas Dalton, John Ledwith; Conor Egan (Capt.), Cormac Delaney, Barry Egan; Josh Fleming, Ross Brady, Barry Cushen.
Subs: Colm Doyle for John Ledwith (42 mins), Ed Cullen for Ross Brady (49 mins), Liam Flynn for Conor Egan (58 mins).
Referee: Shane Guinan (Drumcullen).
By Offaly Secretary Sun 20th Sep
